I've been trying to decide on the best way to defend the option with NFL caliber athletes on both sides of the ball.
It would seem like we designed our system to have our DEs read then make the correct play while playing zone behind it. It seems like with the speed of the NFL game that time to read then react gave the offense a step on our d-line and allowed them to reach the corner.
I wonder if a better defense would be more of a strict 1 gap defense focusing on gap penetration and bringing enough defenders to account for the running back and the quarterback. You would leave yourself open to the big play and getting beat over the top. However it seems like it would be hard for their offense to get in a grove and wear our defense out in the second half. I envision our traditional 4 down linemen with Kiwi playing will but lining up on the line as well. Then play man coverage with a man assigned to the RB and the QB.
I'm sure I'm over simplifying it, so I would like some insight on how others would attack the option and why.
It's a grotesque oversimplification, but I think the Giants showed too much respect to the Skins passing game last night. Honestly, they should have just treated the gameplan the same way they treated the Packers: Attack.
You saw Osi on a few plays hesitate between pitch and QB and that's when the option works and kills you. JPP did the same thing, he dove inside on Morris but should have read the QB the WHOLE time. It works because it's counter to what you're taught at the NFL level which is see ball, get ball. Against the option it's about discipline and knowing who is doing what. It's NOT hard at all, but you have to keep your assignments consistent up front and we didn't do that at all.
The key is to maintain gap discipline and the Giants defensive ends did a very poor job of that last night. You also grudgingly need to give the skins credit as they mixed it up well. RGIII is also much better at play action than I thought he was. He killed the LBs with some of his fakes yesterday leading to easy throws over the middle.
I don't think the strategy of "each time they run it we will crush him" is much of an answer.
1. They stop calling the play
2. QB begins pitching the ball too early
Our DE's played very undiscipline last night...Osi, JPP, etc...
Our run defense is just bad bad.
but if we are facing these guys for years to come my two cents is as always: you need massive DL'ers that also have very good rush, movement and even some speed chops.
and enough of those that they dont get worn down
and I have to say the stunts are looking slow in the face of some of these teams
(and of course the 5-0-6 might help ;-))